Traffic signal



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Patented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in traffic signals and it more especially consists of the fea-v tures pointed out in the annexed claims. y

The purpose of my invention is to provide a system of trame control which is universally adaptable tothe varying conditions, that different city ordinances, and diierent traine congestions at lcertain street intersections may demand; that utilizes a standard set of vari-colored interchangeable lenses to establish order out of the present chaotic traine conditions.

In addition and associated with such lenses- I also provide standard colored signals to indicate when and where U turns may be safely made and where right or left hand turns or both may be made, and that uses standard red stop; yellow, amber or modified cautionary signals; and standard green safety or go signals.

With these and other ends in view I illustrate on the accompanying drawing such instances of adapt-.ationv as will disclose the broad underlying features without limiting myself to the specific details shown thereon and described herein.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a conventional stop and go sign in which a red stop light and a red U turn signal is indicated.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View of the lights of Fig. 1 showing the yellow light operative.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 2

showing the green light operative.

Fig. 4 and 4a diagrammatically show a red light primary lens, a green right turn light and a green U-tuin light.

Fig. 5 and 5a are similar to Fig. 4 showing a green left turn lens and a green U turn.

Fig. 6 and 6a are views similar to Fig. 4 showing a green right, a green left turn light and a red no U turn tube.

Fig. 7 and '7.a show a yellow light combination in which right, left turn and U turns are prohibited.

Fig. 8 and 8a are similar to Fig. '7, however, only green right and U-turns are permitted.

Fig. 9 and 9a are similar to Fig. 8, however, only a left turn is indicated by the secondary green light and U-turns are permitted.

Fig. 10 and 10a. are similar to Fig. 9, however, showing that right and left and U-turns may be 50 made.

Fig. l1 and 11a show a primary green light combination on which no rightleft or U-turns can be made.

Fig. 12 and 12a are similar to Fig. llvshowing that a right and a Uturn can be made.

Fig. 13 and 13a are similar to Fig. 12 showing that left and U-turns are permitted.

Fig. 14 and 14a are similar to Fig. 13 showing that both right and left turns and U-turns can be made.

Fig, 15 is a diagram of a modified vmultiple lens unit in a single circle.

Fig. 16 is a diagram of another modied multilens unit in a single circle.

Fig. 17 is an elliptical multi-lens unit. I0

Fig. 18` is a cylindrical lens combined with an angular lens at each end.

In Figs. 1, 2, 4a to 10a inclusive a group of ve lampsis shown beneath the U signal to indicate permissible travel at the intersections occurring Il between the main stop and go lights.

In using my invention I may employ whatever alternatives or equivalents of structure and combinations of colo-rs and shapes that the exigencies of varying conditions may demand Without de- 20 parting from the broad spirit of the invention.

I may use any desired form of stop and go housing I which may be supported on a pedestal at street corners 01 it may be suspended overhead. The housing encloses standard red, yellow and '86 green primary lenses 2 and red and green secondary lenses 3 to control right or left turns, or both. In addition I also use U shaped tubes 4 of red or green colors, and small U turn colored control lamps 5. In addition I associate with the $0 other lenses, on the same housing groups of small red lights 6 near the bottom of' the housing to indicate that the same traic control exists at all cross streets between the main stop and go lights.

As my invention relates, principally to the com- $6 bination of primary lenses with secondary lenses as a single unit or in adjacentrelation to each other I may form a lens unit as shown in Figs, 1-14 in which a primary lens 2 has two triangular secondary lenses 3 associated with it. The secd) ondary lenses may be of the same color as the primaryv or one secondary may be of the same and the other secondary of a contrasting color. The lens combinations shown in Figs. 1-14, 15, and 16 is of circular shape; they will t into any standard lens opening. Two small round secondary lenses l are formed on the face of a primary lens 2 (Fig. 15). Two crescent shaped lenses 8 are combined with the primary lens 2 (Fig, 16). The primary lens 9 is elliptical in shape. It has two crescent 50 secondary lenses 8 (Fig. 17). The primary lens IIJ is rectangular in outline and at each end there are two triangular secondary lenses H (Fig, 18).

The different lenses have separate lamp bulbs.

`The primary lenses have bulbs l2 and the sec- 155` ondary lenses bulbs I3. There is a separate compartment for each bulb (not shown) to prevent the illumination of the bulbs interfering with each other.

The U shaped colored tubes 4 are placed on each one of the four faces of the housing I. They may be red or green but the color bears a direct relation to the color of an associated primary lens 2. Red always indicates that a U, turn can not be made. A green color indicates that U turns are permissible under certain conditions. The control is the small lamps 5. At certain intersections these lamps will not be lighted, as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6a, 7a and lla. At other points the lamps 5 are always green as instanced in Figs. 4a. and 14a. At other intersections they will be yel low, indicated in Figs. 5a, 8a, 9a, 10a and 13a. In isolated instances the small lamp 5 will show red at all times. Lenses 4 may be colored instead of the bulbs. The U tubes 4 are colored red or green and they are illuminated in any desired manner. 'I'he group lamps 6 are maintained red at any given street intersections where they are used, or a separate lens for each may be colored..

They are active in the different combinations shown, except in Fig. 3 and Figs. 11a-14a..

When the small lamps 5, in isolated instances, are red, at all times it indicates that U turns can only be made when the red primary signal is showing above.

The successive changes on one face of the housing I are shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. It is of course understood, in common practice, that when a red signal I4 shows, then the yellow I5 and green I6 do not appear. When the green signal I6 shows, the yellow and red do not appear and when the yellow is Visible the green and the red are not. The opposite face of the housing i always shows the same color relation and the two faces looking toward the cross-street will show a green go light I6 instead of the red stop light I4. In other words two faces ofthe housing, in the main show, duplicate red, yellow and green signals in their proper order and the other two faces show the corresponding green, yellow and red signals in a related order to the other faces of the housing I.

My system permits of the utmost flexibility in installation, that is, the peculiar traffic conditions at any given street intersection can be met by one or the other of the adaptations shown on the drawing, or any cooperative modifications thereof, and the radically different conditions at another location can be equally met by my standardized system regardless of the specific timing relation between the different signals or the special wiring circuits that may be employed.

The following brief description of the combinations shown on the drawing is only illustrative of some of the adaptations that can be made:

When all forward, and all turns are prohibited the warning will of course be red as indicated in Fig. 1.

The cautionary yellow signal, Fig. 2 shows that no right nor left nor any U turns can be made and that it is time to get ready to follow the next signal which will be green.

When through-traffic is free to move, the signal will be green as shown in Fig 3 but no turns of any kind can be made.

Right-side turns are permitted and left-hand turns prohibited at the same time that forward traflic is stopped as indicated in Figs. 4 and 4a. The U signal indicates that U turns can be made only when the primary signal. is green. The

small green lamp 5 indicates when this can be done.

Left-hand turns are permitted, in Fig. 5 and U turns are permitted as in Fig. 5a but only when the primary lens is yellow but all right hand turns are prohibited.

The five lights at the bottom wherever they occur warn the driver that the same conditions control all cross traffic at points between the main signals.

In Fig. 6 all forward traffic is stopped but both right and left hand turns can be made, however,

no U turn can be made, as shown in Fig. 6a because the U is red and the small lamp 5 is not lighted.

In the position shown in Fig. 7 the primary red lens is not now visible but the primary yellow lens is. Under this condition the only forward movement that is permitted is to clear the intersection. No side movements are permitted as shown by the red secondary lenses. U turns are also prohibited as shown in Fig. 7a.

In Fig. 8 forward movement is cautionary to clear the crossing. Left turns are not permitted but right hand ones are and U turns are only admitted when the primary lens is yellow.

'I'he conditions in Figs. 9 and 9a remain virtually the same as in Fig. 8 except that, now left turns are permissible but no right turns, and l trac and no U turns are permitted in Fig. lla.

In the next change peculiar to a given intersection, shown in Figs. l2 and 12a, only right hand and U turns are permissible. However U turns are only permissible while the primary signal is red. i

Only left-hand turns and U turns as Well as through traffic are permitted, as shown in Figs. 13 and 13a.

In Figs. 14 and 14a no traffic of any kind is prohibited. In the group Figs. ll. to 14 inclusive the groups of ve lamps 6 are not lighted. This indicates that at all intersections between the main lights through-traffic has the right of way and stops are not required as when these lamps are red as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 4ll0a inclusive.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that all the lenses, 2, 3, 4, 5 and E are formed so as to be easily removable and interchangeable. This unique provision makes it practicable for each individual city, or town, or traffic control body to mount such lenses as will conform to local ordinances or regulations prevailing in any particular locality. It is a further unique feature that any combination of lamps at street intersections can be changed from time to time v as may be necessary to comply with revisions in the statutory provisions for traflic control.

The basic idea of my traffic control system is that it will become universal wherever these lamps and indicators are used, therefore motorists, will quickly become familiar with the established traflic control no matter where they may be. This certainty of knowledge in diierent localities as to what is and what is not permitted in traffic movements will result in the elimination of many traffic accidents caused by confusion or ignorance of local regulations.

In the drawing the customary red, yellow and green lights are used, but the yellow or cautionary light may be omitted if desired, without in any way setting aside the basic value of my universal system of trafc control.

Attention is also directed to the fact that no material change will be necessary in4 the ordinary electric control circuits or the related switching mechanism associated with my primary and secondary signals. The lower portion of a lamp housing containing the U tube and the lamps 5 and 6 remain lighted continuously at certain intersections, hence it is a simple matter to supply current to such lamps b-y special wires independently of the usual intermittent currents which supply the regular lamps.

I have referred to the diierent lenses having separate compartments and separate bulbs, but it is also understood that I may use a single bulb of sucient wattage, placed immediately behind a primary lens so as at the same time illuminate both right and left secondary lenses. In this case the Single bulb would be of white light. It

is of course obvious that clear lenses may be used with colored bulbs behind them.

What I claim is:

l. In trafc controls, a combination lens comprising a separate primary lens of major area and a discontinuous circumference comprising a plurality of approximately opposed similar shaped notches, an equal plurality of selective lenses insertable in said notches to complete the discontinuous circumference of the primary lenses, and holding means for structurally supporting the lenses as a unit.

2. In traiic controls, a single supporting housing, a plurality of standard red yellow and green separate primary lenses constituting a unitary group each one of said lenses comprising ya plurality of approximately opposed similar shaped notches, said lenses being insertab-le in and removable from the housing, and an equal plurality of diierent colored right or left turn secondary lenses insertab-le in and removable from said notches in any associative relation with the primary lens.

Z; LESLIE HOOVER. 

